Best Christmas EVER

Of course, I can probably say every Christmas is the best ever, because with each year they just get better and better. Of course I took a bazzillion pictures and since we just returned from the cabin a few hours ago, I haven't had the chance to sort through all of them. I just couldn't resist sharing this little gem though, this boy is pure joy.

Moving

We're moving. In one month (!!) we are closing on our new house, as well as closing on our current house. In the course of two days, we went from not having a house we were interested in to being under contract on a beautiful home and having a buyer for our home. It's been amazing to see the Lord's hand in all of this, He truly is in charge. And a word of advice? If you ever decide to sell your house and move, try to avoid doing so during the holidays. Because moving is messy business, even if it is just a few miles south. Throw in a week-long Christmas stay at my parents cabin and an almost-week-long trip to Disneyland in the middle and you're just asking for madness. Luckily, I'm one of those odd sorts that thrives under pressure and deadlines, bring it on! In this case, it helps me to not focus on the fact that I'm leaving my house, the home to which I brought my babies home from the hospital. Where we became a family of three, then four. Where adorable things like this happen on a daily basis:

Halloween

Better late than never, right?

The night before Halloween we painted pumpkins. I'm usually a huge fan of pumpkin carving, but this year I really lacked the desire to clean up all the gunk, and besides, Norah can't yet wield a knife, but she's a master with the paint brush!

Norah basically thought Halloween was the best thing ever invented. Dressing up as a princess and people give you candy? Seriously? What could be better!? We only had time to hit a few houses before her desire to sleep overtook her desire for candy (it was weird) but she loved every minute of it. As for Clayton? He's always happy. And he made the cutest little monkey you ever did see.

My littles

I seriously don't think I could love these two any more than I do. And I love that they love each other. Clayton lights up when he looks at Norah, and Norah finds so much joy in the fact that she can get Clayton to laugh better than anyone else. And I love that they'll put up with their crazy mom taking pictures of them all the time.

My everyday

My everyday isn't glamorous. We aren't jet-setters and we don't wear designer clothes. Our idea of a big night out is a family dinner at Los Hermanos when all the senior citizens dine, before 5. But my everyday consists of spending time with these two - and they are my everything. When bedtime comes around and it's just me and the Mr, our exciting night usually consists of catching up on episodes of Vampire Diaries and finishing off the leftover Halloween candy. And I couldn't be happier. I wouldn't trade what I have for anything, not even my pre-baby body and a European vacation.

Swimming pools are over-rated, Norah prefers taking a daily swim in her tub.

Happy Halloween!

Every year at Gardner Village they have a fantastic display of life-size witches and other fun Halloween decor at Witchfest. I've never been but I've always heard fun things about it, so when my mom called me yesterday morning and asked if I wanted to go and bring my littles, of course I said "yes!" So we got ready and were out the door in less than a hour - record time for me and my two head-strong children. It was so worth it, Norah had a blast! She's a pretty big fan of this Halloween holiday and all the fun surrounding it. I can't wait for trick-or-treating tonight, she's going to be in heaven.